Convertible blanket

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a convertible blanket comprising a blanket  1  made of fabric material and a pocket  2  into which the blanket can be stowed to create a cushion or pillow. The blanket may also include a zip fastener around its edge to convert the blanket into a sleeping bag. Preferably the pocket is of a shape that provides an amusement object for a child when it is stuffed with the blanket, for example, it may resemble a stuffed animal, an object such as a crown or football, or a cartoon character.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present specification relates to blankets that areconvertible between at least two modes of operation.

[0003] The present invention is intended to solve the problem ofchildren bringing their duvets or quilts downstairs from the bedroom towrap around themselves, for example, whilst they watch television.

[0004] Alternatively, there could be a quilted or fleecy blanket or‘throw’ left in the TV room that they can wrap around themselves butthis has to be folded and may be left untidily on a settee or chair.

[0005] If the normal bedding, e.g., duvet or quilt is broughtdownstairs, then it is often wrapped around the child like a ‘cloak’. Ifthe child gets up and moves, it falls off.

[0006] The present invention, at least in its preferred forms, isdesigned to solve these and other problems.

[0007] In its simplest form, there is provided a blanket having a pocketinto which the blanket may be stuffed. The stuffed pocket can thenfunction as a cushion or pillow. Preferably the stuffed pocket also hassome amusement function, for example use as a stuffed toy or noveltyitem.

[0008] Thus, viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides aconvertible blanket comprising:

[0009] a blanket made of fabric material; and

[0010] a pocket, the pocket being attached to the blanket and being of asize to receive the blanket for storage, the pocket having a perimeter,along at least a portion of which it is joined to the blanket, and beingprovided with an opening for receiving the blanket.

[0011] The pocket may comprise a piece of material that is sewn onto oneside of the blanket. The pocket material may be the same as the blanketor a different material. It may be made from a different colour fabric.In another embodiment, the pocket may take the form of a small baghaving front and rear sides which is joined to the blanket close to itsopening.

[0012] The pocket may be used in that form as attached to the blanket,with the blanket being stowed inside, or the pocket may be reversedprior to insertion of the blanket. For example, to stow the blanket, thepocket may be turned inside out and the blanket then stuffed inside. Insuch an embodiment, the external surface of the pocket with the blanketremoved forms the interior of the pocket when it receives the blanket,and similarly the internal surface of the pocket becomes the exteriorwhen it is stuffed with the stowed blanket.

[0013] The blanket is preferably made of a soft man-made fleece typematerial, for example, like those manufactured under the Polartec(registered trade mark) name, which are warm, lightweight and easy towash. Preferably the fabric of the blanket is at least 5 mm thick, morepreferably more than 7 mm thick.

[0014] However, the term “blanket” used herein is not intended to beinterpreted narrowly, e.g., in the sense of a thick sheet, but isintended to cover thin sheets, comfort blankets, throws, towels, paddedbedding such as duvets and quilts, sleeping bags or sleeping sacks andother such soft bedding or similar item of a breathable woven fabricmaterial, e.g., cotton or wool, or man-made fleecy materials that ayoung child may wish to wrap around themselves whilst they watchtelevision. In the case of duvets and quilts which are usually kept in awashable duvet cover, a cover provided with a pocket in accordance withthe present invention is within the term “blanket” used herein. In sucha case the pocket is of a size to receive the cover and the duvet orquilt contained therein.

[0015] Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides aconvertible blanket comprising:

[0016] a blanket in the form of a substantially rectangular area offabric having a first edge and a substantially parallel second edge

[0017] a pocket attached to the blanket, the pocket being of a size forreceiving the blanket; and

[0018] a fastener provided along a first edge of the blanket forfastening said first edge to said second edge of the blanket.

[0019] This provides the advantage that the convertible blanket hasgreater functionality (3 in 1 uses) and therefore more likely to be usedby the child. The blanket is convertible for use in three modes ofoperation of:

[0020] 1) blanket being extended for use as a blanket

[0021] 2) blanket being received in the pocket for use as a pillow orcushion; and

[0022] 3) blanket being fastened along said first edge to said secondedge for use as a sleeping bag.

[0023] Preferably the pocket is intended to take the form of anamusement object when it is stuffed with the blanket. For example, theperimeter of the pocket may be of a shape corresponding to: a ball suchas a football (a round or oval shaped football), baseball, basketball,netball, tennis ball, golf ball or similar; a crown or other shape thatmight be used by a manufacturer as a trade mark, for example, onchildren's toys; a heart shape or other everyday shape like a flower,vegetable, phone; a head, foot, paw or body of an animal, monster,alien-being or dinosaur; a fish or crustacean; a bird, bat or otherflying creature; a cartoon character or a head of a famous person, etc.The pocket may be patterned with additional pieces of fabric or beprinted to reinforce the appearance of the amusement object. Theadditional pieces of fabric may have different textures.

[0024] To receive the blanket, the pocket opening is preferably greaterthan 15 cm and more preferably greater than 20 cm to allow the blanketto be stuffed inside easily, but is preferably less than 70 cm and morepreferably less than 50 cm to avoid the opening being too large, whichcould make it difficult to stuff the pocket. The opening is preferablyin the form of a slit, though additional side webs of fabric could beincluded to expand the opening where necessary. The pocket may extend inone dimension for a length of greater than 25 cm and preferably greaterthan 30 cm. Depending on the shape of the pocket, this may be in adirection that is substantially parallel to the opening. The pocket mayalso need to extend greater than 25 cm and preferably greater than 30 cmin a perpendicular direction to provide adequate accommodation for theblanket without the stuffed pocket feeling too firm for use as a softcushion or pillow.

[0025] In one embodiment, the pocket has decoration on its inside, e.g.,in the form of a printed pattern or fabric features, and is preferablyalso of a corresponding shape so that when it is turned inside out itdepicts a fun object such as an animal, dinosaur, fish, character, toy,vehicle, monster, etc., or a portion of such an object, e.g., a head ofa teddy bear. When the blanket is stowed within the pocket, the stuffedpocket then serves as a toy or novelty cushion. It may also be used as apillow.

[0026] Providing the decoration on the inside of the pocket also adds a“surprise” factor to the product which can add to the child's enjoyment.When the blanket, perhaps depicting one scene or character, is stowed,another character or animal can be created by the stuffed pocket,providing a distinction between television watching time and otheractivities such as getting ready for bed.

[0027] Preferably both sides of the interior of the pocket includedecoration. In one embodiment the decoration depicts a different objecton different sides so that the stuffed object is reversible. This may beof advantage where the stuffed object is in the form of a cushion whichis intended to be left stowed, for example, on seating in the room,where its reversibility could allow different colours or objectdepictions to be chosen depending on the mood of the parent.

[0028] The pocket could also include straps or other carrying aid whichis revealed when the pocket is turned inside out, for example, shoulderstraps so that the child can carry the stuffed toy on his or her back,or a waist strap for carrying it around his or her waist. In this waythe straps can be stowed safely in the pocket when the blanket has beenpulled out and the pocket reversed. A zip, hook and eye material, pressfasteners, buttons or other fastening device can be used to close thepocket. The straps or the like may also form part of the overall designthat the stuffed pocket is intended to replicate, for example, as armsand/or legs of an animal, which then hug around the child when it isbeing carried and may be foam or perhaps air filled.

[0029] When not filled with the blanket, the pocket may be used forstoring sweets and toys, depending on its orientation with respect tothe blanket. It could also be used to store the remote control so thatit does not become lost behind the sofa. In another embodiment, thepocket may be positioned to receive the feet of the child to keep thechild's feet warm when watching television.

[0030] Buttons, hook and eye material or other fastening means may beprovided to attach the pocket to the blanket so that it can be removedfor washing of the blanket. However, it is most preferred to provide anintegral pocket that is permanently attached to the blanket throughsewing or similar operation.

[0031] The invention is not limited to children's products and may alsohave appeal to an adult market, for example, as a cosy blanket that iskept in the television room for cuddling up into when watching thetelevision. In such situations, the stuffed object may have more of anadult theme, possibly depicting more grown up shapes or presenting anexternal form that imitates a conventional cushion when the blanket isstowed. Such blankets for adults will be generally larger and will stowto form a larger stuffed object, perhaps forming a “bean bag” type seat.The concept of providing a “bean bag” seat would also be applicable to achild's product.

[0032] In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, a blanketis provided with a hood which is stored in a pocket when not in use.Preferably the blanket is a cover for a duvet or quilt. Once releasedfrom its pocket, the hood can be worn over the head of the user so thatthe blanket can be worn as a hooded cloak. Preferably the hood includesdrawstrings, elastic or similar tensioners to pull the hood close aroundthe head of the user. The hood may include features or be printed toresemble an object such as an animal, fish, dinosaur, character etc, orportion thereof, preferably in conjunction with printing or decorationon the blanket. For example fabric ears or other feature could beprovided. The hood is preferably open at the face portion, but mayinclude fabric, for example to form a mask to imitate a character suchas a cloaked superhero, e.g., Batman or Superman. Preferably the hood isprovided halfway along one edge, but may also be provided at one corner.

[0033] Preferably fastening means is provided, e.g., in the form of hookand eye type material, lace or buckle, to allow the blanket to besecured around the shoulders of the user so that the user can walkaround with the blanket still in place and keeping the user warm. Theposition of the fastening means should be at about shoulder level whenworn.

[0034] In the preferred embodiments, the blanket also includes thestowing pocket described above. It is also envisaged that the hood couldbe retained within the blanket stowing pocket. In another embodiment,the hood could form a pocket for stowing the blanket.

[0035] Certain preferred embodiments will now be described in moredetail by way of example only and with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0036]FIG. 1 illustrates a blanket or quilt having a pocket;

[0037]FIG. 2 illustrates a sleeping bag having a pocket;

[0038]FIG. 3 illustrates a quilt having a pocket and which has beenprovided with a hood and fastening straps;

[0039]FIG. 4 illustrates the interior of the pocket, when reversed andstuffed with the blanket, as a front view;

[0040]FIG. 5 illustrates the stuffed pocket of FIG. 4 from above; and

[0041]FIG. 6 illustrates a blanket with a hood extracted, ready forwearing as a cloak.

[0042] As described above, there is provided a blanket 1, preferablymade from a substantially rectangular piece of soft fleecy material (seeFIG. 1) with a sewn-on shaped pocket 2 on one side. The blanket 1 couldalso be made from several pieces of fabric that have been sewn together.The blanket 1 should be of a suitable size to fit easily around the agegroup of child that it is intended to be for. In general this will meanedge dimensions of between 1 to 2 metres, and preferably dimensions ofabout 120 cm by 150 cm.

[0043] To store the blanket 1 away, the user simply reaches inside theopening of the pocket 3 and grabs a handful of blanket 1 and pulls itout of the pocket 2, thereby creating a ‘hollow’ on the reverse side.The user then turns the blanket 1 over and literally ‘stuffs’ the entireblanket 1 into this ‘hollow’. As the last of the blanket 1 is pushedinto the hollow, the sewn-on pocket 2 reverses itself inside out,therefore taking up the shape of the pocket 2 and showing the decorationthat was previously inside the pocket as shown in FIG. 4. This pocket 2preferably has decoration on both sides of it with an opening 3 (seeFIG. 5).

[0044] Any attractive shape or form can be used for the pocket 2, forexample, simple animals, fish, teddy bear faces, etc., and thedecoration can either be simply printed on or become much more complexwith additional shaped features added, for example, with a teddy bear'sears or nose.

[0045] The resulting item is a soft, shaped cushion that can be left,simply and unobtrusively, on a chair (see FIG. 4). To convert the itemback into a blanket 1, you simply reverse the process and pull all theblanket 1 out of the opening 3 in the cushion, until the cover of thecushion itself reverses itself back into being the pocket 2 on theoriginal blanket 1.

[0046] The blanket 1 can also be a simple open tube with an opening 4,but closed at the bottom, so that the user gets into it to remain warmbut otherwise, it functions in exactly the same way as the blanket 1when converting into a cushion (see FIG. 2).

[0047] In a further embodiment, the blanket of FIG. 1 may be alsoconvertible into a sleeping bag type of structure by providing a zipfastener along one of the edges, and preferably along a base and opposedside edges as is known for conventional sleeping bags, for example, aswith the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0048] The positioning of the pocket 2 is not critical, although if theconvertible blanket is also intended for use as a sleeping bag, it ispreferable to position the pocket so that it is off to one side whenbeing used as a blanket 1 (e.g., in the quarter or three quartersposition). In this way the pocket 2 will be positioned more centrallywhen the blanket 1 has been folded in half for use as a sleeping bag.

[0049] If desired, a second large pocket may be provided on the blanket1, for example, in positions corresponding to the front and back of asleeping bag. A second large pocket 2 may be provided on the reverse ofthe blanket 1. In one embodiment, this may provide a large pocket 2within the sleeping bag for holding a hot water bottle. The additionalpocket 2 might portray a different amusement object so that the child oradult has a choice of form and/or colour for the stuffed cushion/pillowmode.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, a further extension of this concept is to sewthe same open pocket feature 2 into a normal continental quilt cover orduvet cover 1. In this embodiment, the sewn-on pocket 2 is made muchlarger to accept the larger bulk of the quilt itself, but otherwise itfunctions in exactly the same way. When the entire quilt 1 is ‘stuffed’into the pocket 2, the resulting large shaped object can be used as alarge pillow or ‘bean bag’ style of chair.

[0051] Preferably in this embodiment, there are two other features thatcan be built into the duvet cover 1 itself. One feature allows foranother small internal pocket 5 in the middle of one edge of the duvetcover 1, closed with a zip or hook and eye type material such as Velcro(registered trade mark). Within this pocket is a fleecy hood 6 that whenreleased can sit over the head of user, so as to turn the whole duvetcover 1 into a cloak (see FIG. 6) with a hood. The hood may bedetachable for washing purposes or permanently fixed to the duvet coverby sewing. A second feature allows for a fastening device 7 around thefront of the ‘cloak’ to hold it onto the users shoulders.

[0052] Thus there has been described a novel arrangement which providesa blanket or similar bedding material that can be converted into a wrapfor a child for whilst it is watching television, or a stuffed toy orcushion that can be left unobtrusively on seating in the televisionroom. The convertible blanket may have use as a large stadium blanket,as a bedspread cover, as a cover for children while they are seated inthe car and using seat belts, as a pillow or cushion, as a seat cushion,as a sleeping bag and as a lap blanket to name but a few possible uses.

1. A convertible blanket comprising: a blanket made of fabric material;and a pocket, the pocket being attached to the blanket and being of asize to receive the blanket for storage, the pocket having a perimeter,along at least a portion of which it is joined to the blanket, and beingprovided with an opening for receiving the blanket.
 2. A convertibleblanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the perimeter corresponds to theshape of a ball.
 3. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe perimeter corresponds to the shape of a crown.
 4. A convertibleblanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the perimeter corresponds to theshape of a heart shape.
 5. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1,wherein the perimeter corresponds to the shape of an animal or head ofan animal.
 6. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein theperimeter corresponds to the shape of a fish.
 7. A convertible blanketas claimed in claim 1, wherein the perimeter corresponds to the shape ofa bird.
 8. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein theperimeter corresponds to the shape of a cartoon character or the head ofa cartoon character.
 9. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1,wherein the pocket has an opening of greater than 20 cm.
 10. Aconvertible blanket as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pocket has anopening of less than 50 cm.
 11. A convertible blanket as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the pocket has a first dimension of greater than 30 cm.12. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 11, wherein the firstdimension corresponds to the width of the pocket and extends in adirection substantially parallel to the opening of the pocket.
 13. Aconvertible blanket as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pocket has asecond dimension, perpendicular to the first, which is greater than 30cm.
 14. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the seconddimension corresponds to the depth of the pocket and extends in adirection substantially perpendicular to the opening of the pocket. 15.A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blanket is madefrom a man-made fleece material.
 16. A convertible blanket as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the material of the pocket includes printing to takethe appearance of an amusement object.
 17. A convertible blanket asclaimed in claim 16, wherein the pocket is intended to be turned insideout before receiving the blanket and it is an internal surface of thepocket which includes printing to take the appearance of an amusementobject.
 18. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 16, whereincarrying straps are provided within the pocket which become usable oncethe pocket has been reversed and the blanket received within the pocket.19. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein a zip fasteneris provided along a first edge of the blanket to join said first edge toa second edge of the blanket together.
 20. A convertible blanketcomprising: a blanket in the form of a substantially rectangular area offabric having a first edge and a substantially parallel second edge apocket attached to the blanket, the pocket being of a size for receivingthe blanket; and a fastener provided along a first edge of the blanketfor fastening said first edge to said second edge of the blanket,whereby the blanket is convertible for use in three modes of operationof: 1) blanket being extended for use as a blanket 2) blanket beingreceived in the pocket for use as a pillow or cushion; and 3) blanketbeing fastened along said first edge to said second edge for use as asleeping bag.
 21. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, whereinthe pocket is intended to be turned inside out before receiving theblanket such that the inside of the pocket becomes the outside surfacewhen stuffed with the stowed blanket.
 22. A convertible blanket asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the blanket is intended for use as a largestadium blanket.
 23. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20,wherein the blanket is intended for use as a bedspread cover.
 24. Aconvertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, wherein the blanket isintended for use as a lap blanket.
 25. A convertible blanket as claimedin claim 20, wherein the pocket corresponds to the shape of a football.26. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pocketcorresponds to the shape of a crown.
 27. A convertible blanket asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the pocket corresponds to the shape of aheart shape.
 28. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, whereinthe pocket corresponds to the shape of an animal or head of an animal.29. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pocketcorresponds to the shape of a fish.
 30. A convertible blanket as claimedin claim 20, wherein the pocket corresponds to the shape of a bird. 31.A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pocketcorresponds to the shape of a cartoon character or the head of a cartooncharacter.
 32. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein ahood is provided for attachment to an edge of the blanket to be wornover a user's head.
 33. A convertible blanket as claimed in claim 20,wherein a hood is provided for attachment to an edge of the blanket tobe worn over a user's head.